Combined hip and spine pad



Jan. 11 1927. l ,l4,125

L. w. HARDAGE COMBINED HIP AND SPINE PAD Filed July '2. 1926 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 11 1927. 1,614,125

L. w. HARDAGE COMBINED HIP AND srmz PAD Filed July '2. 1926 2Sheets-Sheet 2' Patented Jan. 11, 1927.

warren STATES LEWIE W. HARDAGE, OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

QOMBINED HI]? ANDSPINE PAD.

Application filed July 7,

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in combined hipand spine pads for football players.

Amongst the several objects of the invention are to provide a pneumaticpad which will protect both the hips and spine from injuries due toimpacts; to provide such a pad from moisture-proof material wherebymoisture or perspiration will not be absorbed by the materialand wherebythe weight of the pad will not thereby be increased; to pro; vide such apad of simple construction whereby the same may be readily applied tothe person or removed therefronnand to provide a plate of relativelystiff material in cooperative position relative to the outer faces ofthe pad sections and at points adjacent the hips, to better protect thewearer from impacts and to also assist in distributing the force of theimpact throughout the inflated sections of the pad.

With these and other objects in View which will more fully appear thenature of the invention will be more clearly understood by the followingdescription, the appended claims, and the several views illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective viewshowing the application of my invention to a pair of football trousers,L V

Figure 2 is a plan view of one of the pad sections embodying myinvention,

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view therethrough,

Figure 4 is an enlarged detailed sectional view showing the air inlettube and the protecting flaps therefor,

Figure 5 is a plan view of one of the plates of relatively stillmaterial, and

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view showing the relationbetween the pad,

' the waist portion of the football trousers,

and the plate of relatively stiff material.

Like numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the severalfigures of the drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A designates a pair of footballtrousers which include the usual leg portions 55 and waist portion 6.

Associated with the football trousers is a pneumatic waist encirclingpad B which is adapted to have its lower end positioned within the waistportion 6 of the trousers and 55 to serve as a protector for the hipsand spine of the wearer.

1926. Serial No. 120,951.

The pad B is formed by two complementary sections 77. Each section isformed from two superposed sheets 8-8 of nonporous material, preferablyincluding rubbcr as a base. The marginal edge portions of these sheetsare sealed, preferably by vulcanizing. The sealed edge portions includelongitudinal or vertically extending front and rear edge portions 9 and10 respectively, a top edge portion 11 and a bottom edge portion 12. Thesheets are also sealed, preferably by vulcanizing, at spaced points toform resultant air channels 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19,20, 21, 22, 23ant 24, the points of sealing or vulcanization being respectively indicated by the numerals 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35,said point preferably extending in parallel lines and in parallelismwith the vertical edge portions 9 and 10. The sealed points, or lines to35 inclusive, terminate at their upper and lower ends in spaced relationto the upper and lower marginal edge portions 11 and 12 to formlaterally extending air channels 36 and 37 which serveto provide opencommunication between the air channels. 13 to 24 inclusive. v In ordertoinflate these sections, I have provided valve 38. This valve ispreferably located at the upper end of the air channel 24 and is formedfrom a rubber tube. After'the pad has been'infla-ted, the end'portion ofthe tube may be rebent and tied so as to effectively close the valve. Inorder to protect the valve, the sheets 8 are formed with upwardlyextending ears 39-39 which are diposed on opposite sides of said valve.

In order to attach the sections 7-7 and to secure the entirety to thewearer, I have provided the rear vertical edge portion 10 of eachsection with a plurality of eyelets 40 and the front vertical edgeportion 9 of each section with a plurality of eyelets 41. A lace 42 isassociated with the eyelets 49 for securing the rear edge portions 10 ofthe sections in overlapping relation and a lace 43 is associated withthe eyelets 41 for securing the front edge portions 9 in overlappingrelation.

The lower forward portion of each section is cut away as at 44 to givefreedom of leg movement of the wearer, particularly when running. Therear portion of each section is also cut away as at 45 to give freedomof leg movement to the wearer and at the same time to give sufficientlength to the rear portions of the sections to properly protect thespine.

In order to further protect the hips of the wearer from injury, I havepositioned a plate 46 against the outer face of the associated section 7and at a point which covers the hip. This plate l-6 is of relativelystill: material and is preferably formed of fibre board. In order tosupport the plate in proper relation, I have attached the same to theinside face of the waist portion 6 of the trousers by means of a clothcover 47 which is stitched to the waist portion 6 by means oi? stitchesst. The lower rear portion of the plate 41-6 is cut away as at 49 togive clearance for leg movement of the wearer, particularly whenrunning.

It will, therefore, be seen that when my improved pad has been properlypositioned and inflated, any impact directed against either hip will bedistributed by reason of the relatively stiff plate 46 throughout alarge number of the inflated air channels of the pad. It will also beobserved that by reason of the air channels being vertically disposed,the pad may be readily encircled about the waist and hips of the wearer.

It is of course to be understood that the details of structure andarrangements of parts may be variously changed and modified withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a football suit, the combination with a pair of trousers having awaist portion adapted to extend over the hips of the wearer, and a waistencircling protector overlapping the waist portion of the trousers andincluding cushioning means covering the hips of the wearer, and a plateof stilt material disposed against the outer face of the cushioningmeans for distributing the force of impact throughout said means.

2. In a football suit, the combination with a pair of trousers having awaist portion adapted to extend over the hips of the wearer, and a waistencircling protector overlapping the waist portion of the trons-- ersand including pneumatic cushioning means covering the hips etthe wearer,and a plate of stiil material disposed against the outer face or" saidpenumatic cushioning inc-ans for distributing the force of impactthroughout said means, raid plate being cured to the waist portion ofthe trousers.

3. In a foot all suit, the con'ibination with a pair of trousers havinga waist portion adapted to extend ov-r the hips of the wearer, 21 waistencircling protector overlapp the waist portion of the trousers andincluding pneumatic cushioning means covering the hips of the wearer,said protector comprising superposed sheets of non-porous material, saidsheets being sealed along their marginal edge portions and also providedwith a plurality of sealing points interme diate said marginal edgeportions to form resultant communicating air channels, a valve air inletcommunicating with one of said channels, and a plate of still materialdisposed against the outer face or" said pneumatic cushion fordistributing the force of impact throughout said cushion, said platebeing attached to the waist portion of the trousers.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

LEl VIE W HARDAGE.

